The Monster Energy MX Nationals were wide-open as we approached the season-opener earlier this month.

New champions will be crowned in all three categories and not even the most knowledgeable of industry experts were game to pick one standout rider leading into Raymond Terrace.

As usual, more questions were raised than answers given following the first of 10 rounds, becoming the focus of this first edition of the brand new Q&A feature exclusive to MotoOnline.com.au.

Can anybody match Todd Waters? Yes
Upon return to Motorex KTM, Waters was unstoppable in MX1 aboard the 450 SX-F Factory Edition at the opening round. However, it is still early days and the best of the best in Australia will no doubt do their work to close on his advantage in the coming rounds.

Did Super Pole add excitement? Yes
In its first appearance at a national, the GoPro Super Pole added a new element of excitement to all aspects of qualifying. It went a little quicker than expected, but a few refinements are in store for the season remainder.

Has Jay Marmont turned his form around from 2012? Yes
Judging by his performance in the opening moto, definitely. Marmont may have been passed by Waters, but before that he passed Matt Moss and pulled away from the rest of the pack.

Who was the biggest surprise? Kale Makeham
Third in MX2 aboard a KTM 250 SX two-stroke was a stunning performance from the rookie, prompting many in the industry to stand up and take notice.

Do riders who race in NZ have an advantage? Yes
With four NZ nationals in their back pocket, Waters, Cody Cooper and Billy Mackenzie filled the MX1 podium… just like round one 12 months ago!

Was Honda’s decision to sign Dan McCoy right? Yes
McCoy may have been outside the top 10 after an incident-filled day, but he’ll gain momentum and give the team a consistent presence on track for the season with the possibility of some surprise performances. Come Supercross, look out.

Can CDR Yamaha make it six straight MX1 titles? Maybe
After Marmont won four straight and Josh Coppins backed it up last year, the pressure is on Billy Mackenzie or Lawson Bopping to rise to the challenge. Right now it’s a long shot considering the form of Waters, but you cannot rule out BillyMac’s potential with the support of CDR or the outright speed of Boppo.

Are Luke Styke and Josh Cachia still the MX2 favourites? Yes
Absolutely. Styke fired the first shot at round one, but expect Cachia to gain momentum as the rounds roll on. In fact, this rivalry could evolve to be the best of the season.

Is the MX2 class lacking depth? No
The likes of reigning champion Ford Dale, Kirk Gibbs and Adam Monea may have stepped up to factory MX1 seats, but it’s given opportunity to a few new faces on the rise. Plus, experienced class contenders including Ryan Marmont and Kade Mosig will be there to push Styke and Cachia all the way.

Will we see new names emerge in MXD? Yes
We already have. Jack Simpson, Jesse Dobson and Hamish Harwood were three new faces that filled the MXD podium at MX Central, setting up an interesting season ahead. Plus, the two-stroke trend continues in the U19s.

Does the new points structure make a difference? Yes
Riders and teams require a new mindset (as does pretty much everybody involved in the series) when it comes to points-paying positions. With points awarded to the top 30 instead of 20, it does make a difference. We’ll monitor this more closely in the coming rounds.

Has Luke Clout got the raw speed we expected? Yes
Everybody knew Clout would be quick, so it was no surprise that during the motos he was second fastest to Styke both times. He has a heap of style too, so expect more from him all season long.

Why wasn’t Ford Dale using the KYB PSF Air fork? Development time
Those with a keen eye will notice that Carlton Dry Honda Racing didn’t have the new production air fork on Dale’s CRF450R. Instead he had Showa kit suspension, mainly due to a lack of preparation time according to the team. Chances are he’ll be using the PSF system by round two.

Is live streaming the future? Yes
Television has been absent from the Aussie outdoors since 2011, however Raymond Terrace saw Williams Event Management introduce live streaming during practice and qualifying. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but this is no doubt the future when it comes to watching the MXN series from home.

Can satellite teams or privateers reach the podium in 2013? Yes
Already we saw Makeham land on the box in MX2 and expect guys like Tye Simmonds (Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil Yamaha), Jake Moss (Campbell Mining Suzuki) and even Cody Mackie (Troy Lee Designs – Maxima Zero Seven Motorsports) to feature on the MX1 podium by year’s end.